NDC Shops For Candidates –

The quest by the main opposition National Democratic
Congress (NDC) to win the 2020 general
elections may be a boasting exercise after all.

Barely three days to its parliamentary primaries across
the country, the NDC is said to be struggling to field candidates in some
constituencies.

Strangely, the party members can’t get candidates in
some constituencies where they don’t control the seats in Parliament (orphan
constituencies) while in some situations, it has rejected some aspirants for
lacking political clouts and has not found anybody to replace them.

According to DAILY GUIDE sources,
Ashanti and Eastern regions are the hardest hit, with the party postponing the
Saturday exercise in those constituencies.

Not even the dangling of carrot for prospective
aspirants by waiving the nominations and filing fees would convince NDC
apparatchiks to pick forms to contest in the Saturday polls.

In the Ashanti Region, election to select candidates for
the 2020 parliamentary elections is taking place in only seven of the 49
constituencies while Eastern Region, according to reports, can boast of
election in only 13 out of the 33 constituencies where aspirants are vying for
slots.

The participating constituencies in the Saturday
primaries in the Ashanti Region are Asawase, New Edubiase, Ahafo Ano North,
Ejura Sekyeredumasi, Asante Akyem North and Offinso North.

In the Eastern Region for instance, party people are
shying away in constituencies the party had previous elections like Akwatia
where former Member of Parliament (MP), Mohammed Baba Jamal, is allegedly
seeking solace in Accra to upstage the sitting MP for Ayawaso East at Nima.

Abuakwa South, the constituency of President Akufo-Addo,
is yet to get a candidate just as the two constituencies in the regional
capital, as well as the two constituencies in Atiwa and others in the Akuapem
and Kwahu areas.

Strangely, ahead of the 2016 elections, the NDC had
waged a campaign of splitting Eastern Region with then opposition NPP in what
it called ‘Agenda 50-50’.

A sarcastic post by an NPP activist from New Juaben
North in Koforidua, Wiafe Debrah, raised issues why NDC gurus in the
municipality are running away from the constituency, especially when they are
boasting of victory in 2020 elections.

“Your party NDC recently opened nominations for people
to contest primaries to become potential parliamentary candidates for the
incoming 2020 general elections. Out of the 33 constituencies in the Eastern
Region that the NDC bragged in 2016 as AGENDA 50/50 (KYƐMU PƐ), only 13 constituencies have gotten people to pick
forms, leaving 20 constituencies vacant. I find this very interesting and
intriguing. A party that is poised and taunting of winning power in 2020. What
has happened or what is happening because this didn’t happen in 2016 when you
were in power,” Wiafe queried in the post directed at Dr. Edward Omane-Boamah,
a former Minister of Communications and registered member of the party in the
constituency.

According to the NPP activist, known NDC chieftains are
running away from the constituency betraying the quest to recapture power.

“Your constituency and branch executives are
finding it very difficult to get a candidate to lead them in the 2020
parliamentary elections. They are now contacting some NPP members to lead them.
They have contacted Nuamah Donkor who was a former NDC candidate and he has
ruled out their proposal. Also, Haruna Appaw who was 2016 NDC candidate has
also moved his wheels to Fanteakwa North (Begoro) to contest primaries.

“I’m yet to discover if they have contacted you and you
have also rejected to lead them in 2020? I will be very shocked and surprised
if you reject their request. We in the NPP in the constituency want you to come
and lead your people in other to garner votes for … Mahama. Don’t sit in Accra
alone and make noise by attacking NPP government every day.

“How can your constituency struggle to get a candidate
while you are there? We need competition in the constituency and so kindly come
and lead your party. We promise you of free and fair elections devoid of attacks
and character assassinations,” Wiafe Debrah queried.

In Takoradi, where the party has suspended nominations,
an aspirant was dropped for not ‘carrying weight’.

According to Kofi Elias Abdul-Rahman, who showed
interest in contesting, the party said there was no credible candidate, hence
suspending the exercise in the city.

He explained that the reason was an indirect insult to
his person.

In the Western Region for instance, the NDC is on the market looking for candidates in places such as Essikado, Takoradi, Kwesimuntsim, Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira, Tarkwa Nsuaem and Amenfi East even though these are part of the party’s orphan constituencies that should have been contested on Saturday.